Climate Change Data

Atkin Olshin Schade Architects

Climate Impact & Sustainability Data (2020)

Reporting Period: 2020

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

  • Energy performance
  • Carbon reductions
  • Resilience
  • Sustainable design
  • Operations

Environmental Achievements

  • Developed a Sustainability Action Plan (SAP) to prioritize energy performance, carbon reductions, and resilience in design, aiming for carbon-neutral buildings by 2030 and carbon-neutral operations by 2025.
  • Implemented design strategies to reduce operational emissions and expenses for building owners and communities.
  • Integrated clean, efficient technology and carbon-smart materials into projects.

Social Achievements

  • Conducted a firm-wide survey to assess design values, practices, and operations.
  • Developed a firm-wide training program to address the training needs of employees at all levels and create a culture of knowledge sharing.
  • Advocated for sustainable design with clients, consultants, and peers.

Governance Achievements

  • Signed onto the AIA 2030 Commitment.
  • Established a data-driven design process with baselines, targets, iterative modeling, and regular reporting.
  • Committed to tracking and auditing the firm's carbon footprint annually.

Climate Goals & Targets

Long-term Goals:
  • Move the entire project portfolio towards carbon-neutral buildings, developments, and major renovations by 2030.
  • Achieve carbon-neutral operations and zero waste by 2025.
Medium-term Goals:
  • Complete multiple projects with carbon-neutral operations by 2023.
  • Achieve carbon-neutral construction in projects by 2025.
Short-term Goals:
  • Meet or exceed 2030 Challenge targets for energy use for every project by 2021.
  • Begin incorporating embodied carbon targets and reporting by 2021.
  • Achieve 50% of firm employees with LEED credentials by 2025.

Environmental Challenges

  • Reducing embodied carbon emissions associated with new construction and building materials.
  • Achieving 100% success rate in meeting 2030 Challenge targets for energy use.
  • Balancing upfront construction costs with reduced operational expenses and project carbon emissions.
Mitigation Strategies
  • Prioritizing preservation and adaptive reuse of existing buildings.
  • Implementing high-performance design strategies and efficient MEP systems.
  • Using iterative modeling and whole building life-cycle assessments (WBLCA) to assess progress toward targets.
  • Advocating for and pursuing aggressive energy performance, decarbonization, and resiliency goals on all projects.

Supply Chain Management

Responsible Procurement
  • Ordering office supplies from local suppliers whenever possible.
  • Purchasing environmentally friendly cleaning supplies and paper products with recycled content.

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Opportunities
  • Reduced operational expenses
  • Development of energy-efficient products

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: AIA 2030 Commitment

Certifications: LEED